The American election is entering a final stretch while a Canadian federal election happens tomorrow, October 14. I thought it might be worth asking the question:
What can other workplaces learn from campaign offices?
Although I’ve volunteered on a few campaigns, I’m hoping that readers with much more experience than me will join the dialog. Here are the two big lessons that I’ve taken from working on local candidate campaigns:
1. You cannot afford to ignore talent. The manager of a small campaign, or volunteer coordinator in a large one, must figure out what particular skills or experience each volunteer or staff member brings, and how to make the most of those.
2. Having everyone in one big war room can be efficient, and help in ensuring talent is put to good use. Workers will always know what challenges the campaign faces because things are not hidden behind closed doors. This allows individuals to rise to the occasion. Sometimes, it’s the computer network failing, which a young helper might just know how to fix. Another time it might be recognizing the Spanish-language-paper’s reporter who just walked in the door and greeting her in her own language.
If you have worked on campaigns, what key broadly applicable lessons have you learned about the workplace?
And….Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!
October 14th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I haven’t worked on a campaign myself but I would venture to guess that the people in those rooms are more motivated than the average worker. Some of them have given up jobs or massive amounts of free time in order to dedicate their efforts to a candidate.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Unlike other workplaces, an American political campaign has a deadline. After election day, the campaign ceases to exist. So the atmosphere is driven, with people working long hours and weekends that have an end in sight, there’s no need nor motive to pace yourself like on a longtime job.
Also second place counts for nothing. An Avis or Pepsi can operate very well in #2 position. But people who campaign for losing candidates don’t get staff jobs.
October 17th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I’ve worked for a state campaign here in Virginia (as a paid staffer) and worked on the tail end of a Senate campaign/new Senate office. I can tell you that people - from both sides - of the aisle pour their hearts and souls into the campaign. The worst is being on a losing side. You get drunk election night and have to start cleaning everything up for the next week or two. It’s probably the most depressing thing ever.
The great thing about either campaign, is the amount of talent in the volunteer pool. If you’re smart, you take everyone’s talent, background, etc. into play and hope that it can help you in one way or another. Some people think it’s exploiting certain groups, but would you want someone talking about your candidate (in a certain group of people) speaking to possible voters (which belong in that same group, income bracket, sexual orientation, etc.).
I’m with Michael, I learned about deadlines and working in FAST-moving offices. One minute, you think your candidate is on top, the next, you find out your down in the polls because of a certain issue. In the second, you have to drop all the crap you were doing and change plans. It’s crazy, but a completely rewarding experience.